Florida priest is arrested after BITING woman in bizarre fight over communion

A Florida priest has been arrested after allegedly biting a woman while arguing with her during communion at Mass.

Father Fidel Rodriguez, a parochial minister at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, was charged with battery after an unknown woman told police she had been attacked on May 19.

The woman can be heard talking about the incident on body camera footage released by the St. Cloud Police Department.

She told officers that the suspect wouldn’t give her “the cookie” and couldn’t understand whether it was because of her “sexuality or clothing.”

“He wouldn’t give me the cookie. I don’t know if it was because of the way I was dressed or if I like it,” the woman said.

The victim told officers that the suspect wouldn’t give her “the cookie” and couldn’t understand if it was because of her “sexuality or clothing.”

Father Fidel Rodriguez, a parochial minister at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Cloud, has been arrested after allegedly biting a woman while arguing with her during communion at Mass

A witness, identified as Santibanez in the arrest report, further told officials that she believed the victim was singled out because of her sexuality and clothing.

‘He tried to forcefully put it in her mouth. She stepped back and said, “No, don’t do that.” She tried to get it, and then he went crazy,” Santibanez said.

But when Father Fidel was questioned, he told the delegates a different story.

The priest said the victim reportedly came to the 10 a.m. Mass for the first time on the same day, but did not take the preliminary steps necessary to receive the communion wafer, and was denied.

The religious leader said she came back later and explained that she had indeed taken the necessary steps and has now been accepted by God.

According to the report, Father Fidel became angry at her claims and tried to ram a “cookie” into her mouth.

Father Fidel has served as parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Cloud since 2015.

In response, the woman tried to grab another communion wafer he was holding, but he grabbed her and bit her arm, police said.

Father Fidel told officials that she had not followed the rules, even though he explained this and gave her the benefit of the doubt before attacking her.

‘I gave her the benefit of the doubt. “Did you go to confession between Mass and now?” Because she can.

‘No, I don’t have to explain that to you. I don’t need any explanation. You have no authority to judge me.” I’m not judging you; I ask: “Have you confessed?”, you hear him say on footage.

The affidavit states that Father Fidel was trying to protect the communion wafer, which is considered the body of Christ in Catholicism.

“Father Fidel said the woman pushed him and wouldn’t let go of the sacrament tray, and the only way he thought he could get her out was to bite her arm.”

The priest also told officers that he did not know the woman or her sexual orientation and was not concerned about it.

Father Fidel has served as parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in St. Cloud since 2015.